study of the occurrence of obesity and some risk factors among primary school children in Assiut governorate

ABSTRACT

The school age period is one of the apparent feeding problems.Over weight and obesity may soon cause as much preventable disease. The obesity rates have been accelerated dramatically in the past 20 years, in conjunction with a nation trend toward sedentary lifestyles. Estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity is a preliminary step to build up the prevention and control strategies of obesity. The aims of this study is to assess the occurrence of obesity among primary school children in Assiut, and determine some of it is risk factors. The study was conducted in 11 primary school in Assiut Governorate [both urban and rural areas]. Cross sectional study was used. The total sample included 1000 pupil from primary schools. They were divided into two groups; first group [562 pupil from urban areas] and second group [438 pupil from rural areas]. They were 717 pupil from governmental schools and 283 pupil from private schools. The pupil's age ranged from 6 to 12 years. They were 571 males and 429 females. Data were collected through interviewing pupils individually using a developed questionnaire sheet. Measurements of weight and height were done for each child individually at school using a scale, and non-stretchable tape and body mass index was calculated. The results revealed that the occurrence of obesity and overweight were [6.4% and 16.3% respectively] and more than half of them [53.6%] had family history of obesity, also all parameters are significant predisposing factors except for sex and scholastic level and also there were significant relations between obesity and taking dinner, eating in front of T. V, and increase eating during stress [P < 0.000, 0.013 and 0.038 repectively]. Further more overweight and obesity were significantly more frequent in urban than in rural localities and in private than in governmental schools. Also they were more frequent in children of illiterate than literate parents. From this work it is to recommend increasing physical activity and practical nutritional knowledge through education programs in the school curriculum, encouragement of physical activity during school days and periodic follow up for overweight and obese children by the school physicians and school nurses to avoid future pathological insults and handicaps